The operators of Swedish nuclear power plants are considering accelerating the shut down of their operating reactors, as the new Swedish government has proposed to raise the taxes on nuclear power capacity by 17% as of 2015 and as the Greens (part of the government) are requesting nuclear shutdowns as early as 2018. Vattenfall operates two nuclear plants: the 3,700 MW Ringhals power plant in Varobacka, with a 70.4% stake, in partnership with E.ON (29.6%) and the 3,167 MW Forsmark power plant in Osthammar, with a 66% stake (8.5% owned by E.ON). The reactors were commissioned between 1975 and 1985 and are expected to be decommissioned between 2025 (865 MW Ringhals-1) and 2045 (1,187 MW Forsmark-3). E.ON, the operator of the 2,511 MW Oskarshamm plant (three reactors commissioned between 1972 and 1985, in partnership with Fortum), is already considering retiring 437 MW Oskarshamn-1 around 2020 while it should be retired in 2022.
The tax increase is estimated by Vattenfall at SEK 530m (€57m) for its two plants. Earlier decommissioning could impact power prices in the Nordic region, especially in dry years, and could reduce payments (based on nuclear power generation) to the Nuclear Waste Fund, created to cover decommissioning costs and spent fuel disposal.
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